The effect of surgical operation on growth hormone levels in plasma.

This study was designed to clarify the details of any changes in serum growth hormone levels occurring in surgical patients. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests were performed upon three groups of six patients each, Group I, minor surgery (inguinal herniorrhaphy), Group II, moderate surgery (vagotomy and pyloroplasty), and Group III, major surgery (aortofemoral bypass). Plasma glucose and serum growth hormone levels were measured. Depression of glucose utilization occurred together with elevations of fasting growth hormone levels and increased growth hormone responses to intravenous glucose. It is suggested that the increased serum growth hormone levels are a response to the glucose intolerance caused by operation, modifying the pituitary growth hormone release.